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Opinion: Mental Illness Awareness Week begins Oct. 3
Source: NAMI
October 6, 2022
Mental Illness Awareness Week starts on Oct. 3. In 1990, the National Alliance on Mental Illness established the week to spread awareness on the amount of mental health held in the United States.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “one in seven 10-19-year-olds experience a mental disorder.” Many mental illnesses can be shown in many teenagers; however, teenagers are not the only ones struggling with mental illness. This October week is used to bring awareness to the surface.
This week should be thought about more deeply than many people think. Many people struggle every day. Reaching out to friends and family can change the major causes of mental illness, including bodily harm and even death.
Other people may not know that this week exists to spread awareness. People often feel uncomfortable bringing up topics like depression and anxiety, which can lead to many difficult situations.
According to the Highland Springs Clinic, “Many times, people erroneously believe that mental health problems signal some type of failure.” This leads to the one who may be struggling with mental health becoming quiet about how they are feeling. Many people struggle to shed light on the topic of mental health, even in their own homes or in friendships.
Although many people feel like they should be careful when talking about mental health, this is not the case. According to WHO, “It is crucial to address the needs of adolescents with mental health conditions.” Many people with severe mental health struggles want to be comfortable speaking about how they feel to seek further help.
One WHO study found that “mental health promotion and prevention interventions aim to strengthen an individual’s capacity to regulate emotions, enhance alternatives to risk-taking behaviors, build resilience for managing difficult situations and adversity, and promote supportive social environments and social networks.”
During this week of Mental Illness Awareness, everyone should shed some light on the topic of mental health. Speaking about mental health can save lives. Not only is it important for the person struggling, but for those around. Medication can be given to increase the stability of a person’s emotional and mental health.
There are many ways to better the awareness of mental health. To start, find a comfortable place to sit down with a peer to start a conversation about your mental health. Peers are there, not to “fix” you, but to give you ideas on where to go next.
After speaking to them, head to a trusted adult. Many teachers, school counselors, friends’ parents, and anyone else who makes you feel comfortable enough to share emotions with. If your trusted adult is not your parents, speak to your parents about finding some help. Whether you tell them the full story or just ask them for help, your parents need to know you need help.
As you get more comfortable talking about mental health, spend time with a therapist or counselor who can diagnose you, so you have answers. Sometimes this leads to being medicated; however, many times, people just need to speak with someone who is a professional in the field they need help in, mental health.
Continue seeking advice and talking to those around you. Never give up and remember that it is okay to struggle from time to time.
If you feel as though your friend or loved one may be struggling with mental health, be gentle. Don’t push for answers. Start a simple talk about how mental health has affected you or someone you know, ending with how the help you or that person got helped them to better themselves. If they are still not ready to speak about their mental health, give them space, but always be there for them.
